100,000 visitors to the Swan Bells

More than 100,000 people have now visited the Swan Bells - the State’s Millennium project.

Arts Minister Mike Board said today that the number of visitors to the bells since the official opening in December had been well above expectations.

“In the first week alone 20,000 people passed through the doors and on most days there has been the maximum 3,000 visitors recorded,” Mr Board said.

“Since the very early stages of the project it has attracted significant public attention and it is pleasing to see so many Western Australians take the trouble to visit the site now the project is complete.

“The Government has been overwhelmed by the positive feedback from people visiting the Swan Bells. The majority of the comments have been very supportive of the project and the ongoing benefits it will have for our community.”

Mr Board said Western Australians had embraced the Swan Bells in a way many people never thought possible.

“It was a project that sparked public debate which I believe, at the end of the day, has served to enhance the community’s sense of ownership of the Swan Bells,” he said.

“As a State we can be very proud of the world-class attraction we have created.

“The Swan Bells will be an enduring feature of our city’s foreshore and has already become one of Perth’s icons.”

The 100,000th visitor to the site will receive an engraved commemorative brass bell and certificate signed by Mr Board and a range of prizes from traders around the Barrack Square precinct.

Mr Board encouraged people who had not visited the Swan Bells to do so.

People can visit the bells free of charge seven days a week between 8am and 8pm for the next three months.